Compact weight lifting machine

ABSTRACT

A compact weight lifting machine includes a lift bar assembly including a lift cable and a lift bar which operates through the lift cable to lift selected weights from a weight stack responsive to either upward or downward movement of the lift bar. A seat assembly is positioned beneath the lift bar and includes first and second sections selectively positionable to support a user to perform a variety of exercises. A leg extension/leg curl mechanism located at one end of the seat assembly and a butterfly mechanism located at the opposite end of the seat assembly also operate through the lift cable to lift selected weights from the weight stack.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No.08/034,734, filed Mar. 19, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,480.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the advent of the physical fitness boom, weight lifting machines ofall shapes and sizes appeared on the market. Unfortunately, each machinetypically provides for a very limited range of exercises, requiringseveral machines to accomplish a full workout.

Various means of resistance have been employed in the many differenttypes of prior art weight lifting machines. Hydraulic and pneumaticresistance, as well as cable supported lead weight resistance have beenemployed, with the traditional lead weight resistance machinesexhibiting greater durability. In lead weight-type machines the weightstack is usually suspended from a cable and structure is provided forincrementally adjusting the amount of weight being lifted. Typically,the cable is configured over a series of pulleys for extension andretraction in a single direction. Therefore, movement of the weightlifting bar or lever connected to the opposite end of the lift cable isrestricted to a particular range or direction of movement, therebyrequiring several different machines to complete a full body workout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The compact weight lifting machine of the present invention overcomesthe foregoing limitations and restrictions by providing a lift barpivotally mounted on a frame and adjustably mounted for upward ordownward movement. The lift bar is operably connected to a pivot armmounted for pivotal movement between parallel upper and lower pulleysupporting arms having pulleys mounted thereon to define the path of alift cable. Restraining members allow movement of one arm at a time, butare anchored to limit pivotal movement toward the other arm, resultingin bidirectional activation of the lift cable by the lift bar.

The lift cable extends beyond the pulleys for actuation by additionallift members. A fully adjustable seat assembly is positioned under thelift bar, and the lift cable extends under the seat assembly. A legactuated lift member is located at one end of the seat assembly and isadjustably positionable for sitting or reclining actuation. A butterflylift member is located at the opposite end of the seat assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compact weight lifting machineincorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the weight lifting machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the weight lifting machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of certain components of the weight liftingmachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the lift cable system of theweight lifting machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a second embodiment of the lift barassembly of the weight lifting machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlargement of the lower portion of FIG. 2 showing the seatassembly of the weight lifting machine in a first configuration;

FIG. 10 is an illustration similar to FIG. 11 showing the seat assemblyin a second configuration;

FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, AND FIG. 14 are diagrammatic illustrations ofvarious configurations of the seat assembly of the weight liftingmachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of certain other components of the weightlifting machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the mechanism of FIG. 8;

FIG. 17 is a further illustration of the lift cable assembly of theweight lifting machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, FIG. 22, and FIG. 23 arediagrammatic illustrations showing the use of the weight lifting machineof FIG. 1 to perform various exercises.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3thereof, there is shown a compact weight lifting machine 30incorporating the present invention. The machine 30 comprises a frame 32which supports and positions the various component parts thereof. Theframe 32 is conventional in nature and comprises a plurality ofinterconnected sections of tubing. The tubing sections comprising theframe 32 may be formed from stainless steel or other conventionalmaterials, and may have a square, rectangular, or any other desiredcross sectional configuration. The tubing sections comprising the frame32 are preferably cut, bent, and welded or otherwise secured togetherusing conventional techniques.

The frame 32 includes a pair of vertically extending guides 34. Aconventional weight stack 36 comprises a plurality of individual weightswhich may be formed from cast iron and which are slidably supported onthe guides 34 for vertical movement thereon against the action ofgravity. A lift cable 38 extends between the guides 34 and isselectively connected to the individual weights comprising the weightstack 36 by means of a pin 40 which is selectively connected to the liftcable 38 in the conventional manner.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a lift bar assembly, which includes a lift bar42, is supported on the frame 32 for upward and downward pivotalmovement about a horizontal axis defined by a rod 44. The lift bar 42extends from the rod 44 to a pair of handles 46 each comprising aplurality of angularly disposed sections which are connected end to endto one another. As is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a spring 47counterbalances the weight of the lift bar 42. As used herein, the term“lift” refers to the lifting of selected weights from the weight stackin response, for example, to movement of the lift bar in eitherdirection.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a pivot arm 48 is supported on and ispivotally connected to the frame 32 at one end thereof. An arcuatemember 50 is connected to the distal end of the pivot arm 48. Thearcuate member 50 has a plurality of pin receiving holes 52 formedtherein at equally spaced locations along its length. The lift bar 42 isselectively connected to the arcuate member 50 by means of a pin 54which is received in a selected hole 52. By means of the pin 54 and theholes 52 of the arcuate member 50, the lift member 42 is selectivelypositioned angularly with respect to the pivot arm 48 and the remainingcomponents of the compact weight lifting machine 30.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the compact weight liftingmachine 30 further comprises an upper pulley supporting arm 56 and alower pulley supporting arm 58. The arms 56 and 58 are each supported byand pivotally connected to the frame 32. The arm 56 has a pulley 60rotatably supported at the distal end thereof, and the arm 58 has a pairof pulleys 62 and 64 rotatably mounted thereon.

The frame 32 of the compact weight lifting machine 30 includes avertically disposed portion 65 which supports a pair of stops 66 and 68.The stop 66 normally engages the arm 56 and prevents pivotal movementthereof downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1. The stop 68normally engages the arm 58 and prevents upward movement thereon fromthe position shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 7, the lift cable 38 extends upwardly fromthe weight stack 36 and is trained around pulley 70 which is rotatablysupported on the frame 32. From the pulley 70 the lift cable 38 extendsdownwardly and is trained around the pulley 62 rotatably mounted on thelower pulley supporting arm 58. From the pulley 62 the cable 38 extendsupwardly and is trained around the pulley 60 rotatably mounted on theupper pulley supporting arm 56. The cable 38 then extends downwardly andengages the pulley 64 which is rotatably mounted on the arm 58.

It will therefore be understood that upon upward pivotal movement of thelift bar 42 from the position shown in FIG. 1, the lift bar 42 operatesthrough the arcuate member 50 and the pivot arm 48 to raise the pulleysupporting arm 56 while the stop 68 prevents upward pivotal movement ofthe pulley supporting arm 58. This action increases the distance betweenthe pulley 60 rotatably supported on the arm 56 and the pulley 62rotatably supported on the arm 58, whereby the lift cable 38 functionsto raise selected weights comprising the weight stack 36 against theaction of gravity. Conversely, upon downward movement the lift bar 42operates through the arcuate member 50 and the pivot arm 48 to pivot thearm 58 downwardly while the arm 56 is restrained from downward pivotalmovement by the stop 66. This action likewise increases the distancebetween the pulleys 60 and 62, thereby causing the lift cable 38 toraise selected weights comprising the weight stack 36.

It will therefore be understood that the lift bar mechanism of thecompact weight lifting machine 30 of the present invention issubstantially identical in construction and function to the lift barmechanism disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 08/034,734,filed Mar. 19, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,480, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a lift bar assembly 80comprising an alternative embodiment which may be used in the practiceof the present invention in lieu of the lift bar assembly shown in FIG.1. The lift bar assembly 80 comprises a lift bar 82 which is supportedfor upward and downward pivotal movement about a horizontal axis definedby a pair of rods 84. A pivot arm 86 is secured to the lift bar 82 forpivotal movement therewith about the same horizontal axis.

The lift bar mechanism 80 further comprises a pair of handles 88 whichare pivotally supported on the lift bar 82 by pins 90. Each handle 88has a locking pin 92 mounted thereon. Arcuate members 94 are mounted onthe lift bar 82 and are provided with a plurality of evenly spaced pinreceiving holes 96. In use, the locking pins 92 are received in thelocking holes 96 to selectively position the handles 88 relative to thelift bar 82 and the pivot arm 86.

A lift cable 38′ is trained around pulleys 62′, 60′, and 64′ in a manneridentical to that illustrated in FIG. 7. The pulley 60′ is rotatablysupported on a pulley support arm 56′, and the pulleys 62′ and 64′ arerotatably supported on a pulley support arm 58′. The lift cable 38′, thepulleys 60′, 62′, and 64′, and the pulley support arms 56′ and 58′ areidentical in construction and function to the lift cable 38, the pulleys60, 62 and 64 and the pulley support arms 56 and 58 illustrated in FIG.1 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith.

A pair of rollers 98 are rotatably supported on a bracket 100 which issecured to the pivot arm 86. Upon pivotal movement of the lift bar 82,the pivot arm 86 operates through the rollers 98 to pivot one or theother of the pulley support arms 56′ and 58′. This action separates thepulleys 60′ and 62′, thereby causing the lift cable 38′ to raiseselected weights from a weight stack against the action of gravity.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the compact weight lifting machine 30 furthercomprises a seat assembly 110. The seat assembly 110 includes a firstsection 112 comprising a pad 114 and a subframe 116. The frame 32 of thecompact weight lifting machine 30 includes a horizontally disposedmember 118 and an end member 120 extending generally upwardly therefrom.The subframe 116 of the seat assembly 110 is pivotally supported on theframe member 120 by a pin 121. The seat assembly 110 further comprises asecond section 122 including a pad 124 mounted on a subframe 126. Thesubframe 126 is pivotally secured to the subframe 116 of the firstsection 112 by a pin 128.

The angular relationship between the first section 112 of the seatassembly 110 and the frame 32 of the compact weight lifting machine 30is selectably adjustable. A bracket 130 is secured to and extendsdownwardly from the subframe 116. A plurality of pin receiving holes 132are formed in the bracket 130. The frame 32 includes a verticallydisposed portion 134 extending upwardly from the horizontally disposedportion 118, and comprising a first section 136 secured to thehorizontally disposed portion 118 and a second section 140 secured tothe first section 136.

A bracket 142 is secured to the second section 140. A locking pin 144 ismounted on the bracket 142 for engagement with the pin receiving holes132 of the bracket 130. Thus, the locking pin 144 and the pin receivingholes 132 function to control the pivotal relationship between the firstsection 112 of the seat assembly 110 and the frame 32. A spring 146 issecured between the bracket 130 and the bracket 142 and functions toeffectively counteract the action of gravity, whereby the positioning ofthe first section 112 relative to the frame 32 is more easilyaccomplished.

An arcuate member 150 is secured to the subframe 126 of the secondsection 122 of the seat assembly 110. The arcuate member is providedwith a plurality of pin receiving holes 152 positioned at equally spaceintervals thereon. A bracket 154 is secured to the subframe 116 of thefirst section 112 of the seat assembly 110 and supports a locating pin156. The locating pin 156 is selectively engaged with one of the pinreceiving holes 152 of the arcuate member 150 to control the angularrelationship between the first section 112 and the second section 122 ofthe seat assembly 110.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the foregoingmechanism allows the selective positioning of the first section 112 andthe second section 122 of the seat assembly 110 relative to the frame 32of the compact weight lifting machine 30 to properly position andsupport the user to perform a wide variety of weight lifting exercises.For example, the positioning of the first section 112 and the secondsection 122 of the seat assembly 110 relative to the frame 32 as shownin FIG. 9 may be used to comfortably support the user to perform avariety of arm, chest and back exercises. The positioning of the firstsection 112 and the second section 122 relative to the frame 32 as shownin FIG. 10 comfortably supports the user to perform the exercise knownas leg curls. Other positionings of the first section 112 and the secondsection 122 relative to the frame 32 of the compact weight liftingmachine 30 are illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14, it beingunderstood that the configuration of the seat assembly 110 of thecompact weight lifting machine 30 is not limited to those illustrated inthe Drawing figures, but is capable of an almost infinite variety ofconfiguration in accordance with the exercises being performed and thepreference of the user.

Referring again to FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, the lift cable 38 extendsdownwardly from the pulley 64 and is trained around a series of pulleys164, 166, and 170, all of which are rotatably supported on the frame 32.The lift cable 38 then extends around a pulley 172 rotatably supportedon a slider 174. The cable 38 engages a pair of guide pulleys 176 and180 and extends to a stop 182 and a ring 184. The ring 184 may beutilized to connect a variety of conventional weight lifting apparatusto the lift cable 38 to facilitate the performance of a variety ofexercises utilizing the resistance afforded by the weights comprisingthe weight stack 36. The stop 182 serves as an anchor to activateoperation of the lift bar assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the pulley 176 is rotatably supported onthe end member 120 of the frame 32, and the pulley 180 is rotatablysupported on an arm 190. The arm 190 is pivotally supported on the upperend of the end member 120 and is selectively lockable either in theposition shown in FIG. 9 or in the position shown in FIG. 10. An arm 192is pivotally supported on the arm 190 and is in turn selectivelylockable either in the position shown in FIG. 9 or in the position shownin FIG. 10. A pair of cylindrical pads 194 are mounted on opposite sidesof the arm 192 and are supported on rods 196 extending in oppositedirections from the distal end thereof.

Referring to FIG. 9, 11, and 22, the positioning of the arm 190, the arm192, and the pads 194 as illustrated in FIG. 9 and the positioning ofthe seat assembly 110 in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 11 adaptsthe compact weight lifting machine 30 for the performance of theexercise known as leg extensions. As is best shown in FIG. 10, 14, and21, the positioning of the bar 190, the bar 192, and the pads 194 asillustrated in FIG. 10 and the positioning of the seat assembly 110 asillustrated in FIG. 14 adapts the compact weight lifting machine 30 forthe performance of the exercise known as leg curls.

As is best shown in FIGS. 3, 15, 16, and 17, the compact weight liftingmachine 30 further comprises a butterfly exercise mechanism located atthe opposite end of the seat assembly 110 from the leg exercisemechanism comprising the arm 190, the arm 192, and the pads 194.Referring momentarily to FIGS. 7 and 17, the butterfly exercisemechanism includes a butterfly cable 200 which is secured at one end toan arcuate member 202. The cable 200 extends from the arcuate member 202around a pulley 204 rotatably supported on the frame 32 and around apulley 206 rotatably supported on the slider 174. From the pulley 206the cable 200 extends around a pulley 208 rotatably supported on theframe 32 and is secured at its opposite end to an arcuate member 212which is identical to but configured oppositely from the arcuate member202.

Referring again to FIGS. 3, 15 and 16, the frame 32 includes an upwardlydisposed member 214 located at one end of the horizontally disposedmember 118. A subframe 216 is secured at the upper end of the upwardlydisposed 214 and supports a pair of cylinders 218. The cylinders 218pivotally support a pair of rods 220 having cylindrical pads 222supported at the distal ends thereof.

The arcuate members 202 and 212 are mounted on plates 224 which aresecured to the rods 220 for pivotal movement therewith. Downward pivotalmovement of the pads 222 from the positions shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 isprevented by a stop 226 comprising part of the subframe 216. The stop226 engages the plates 224 to properly position the pads 222 as shown.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 15, 16 and 17, upward pivotal movement of the pads222 under the action of a user causes the cable 200 to move the slider174 rightwardly (FIGS. 7, 16, and 17). The slider 174 is mounted on arod 228 comprising part of the frame 32. Upon actuation of the pads 222the arcuate members 202 and 212 pull the cable 200 upwardly, whereuponthe pulley 206 forces the slider 174 to move rightwardly. This actioncauses the pulley 172 rotatably supported on the slider 174 to actuatethe lift cable 38 to raise selected weights comprising the weight stack36, thereby affording resistance to movement of the pads 222 during theexercise known as the butterfly, FIGS. 13, 17, and 23 illustrate theconfiguration of the seat assembly 110 for the use of the compactexercising machine 30 in the performance of the butterfly exercise.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated inthe accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiments disclosed, but is cable of numerous rearrangements,modifications, and variations of parts and elements thereof inaccordance with the spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A compact weight lifting machine comprising: a lift barhaving at least one handle; means for supporting the lift bar formovement in first and second opposite directions; a pivot arm; meansconnecting the pivot arm to the lift bar for movement therewith; meansfor selectively varying the positioning of at least the handle of thelift bar relative to the pivot arm; first and second pulleys mounted onopposite sides of the pivot arm, respectively; means for moving thefirst pulley in the first direction with the pivot arm when the lift baris moved in the first direction; means for limiting movement of thesecond pulley in the first direction when the first pulley is moved inthe first direction; means for moving the second pulley in the seconddirection when the lift bar is moved in the second direction; means forlimiting movement of the first pulley in the second direction when thesecond pulley is moved in the second direction; a continuous cabletrained around the first and second pulleys; means for securing one endof the cable against movement; and resistance means connected to theother end of the cable for resisting movement of the lift bar.
 2. Thecompact weight lifting machine according to claim 1 further comprising:a seat assembling assembly positioned beneath the lift bar and includinginterconnected first and second sections; and means for selectivelysecuring the first and second sections of the seat assembly in a varietyof angular relationships to comfortably support a user while engagingthe lift bar.
 3. The compact weight lifting machine according to claim 2further comprising an auxiliary lift mechanism located at one end of theseat assembly and connected to the cable for actuation by the legs ofthe user in both seated and prone positions on the seat assembly.
 4. Thecompact weight lifting machine according to claim 3 further comprising asecond auxiliary lift mechanism located at the other end of the seatassembly and adopted for actuation by the arms of the user while in areclining position on the seat assembly.
 5. In an exercise machine ofthe type in which at least one weight is lifted in response to apredetermined movement, the improvement comprising: a lift bar supportedfor pivotal movement about a horizontal axis in first and seconddirections from an initial position; a first lever supported for pivotalmovement in the first and second directions; a first pulley rotatablysupported on the first lever; means for moving the first lever and thefirst pulley in the first direction when the lift bar is moved in thefirst direction; a second lever supported for pivotal movement with thelift bar in the first and second directions; a second pulley rotatablysupported on the second lever; means for moving the second pulley in thesecond direction when the lift bar is moved in the second direction;means for limiting movement of the first pulley in the second directionwhen the second pulley is moved in the second direction; and a cableconnected to the at least one weight and passing around the first andsecond pulley to a fixed restraint.
 6. The compact weight liftingmachine according to claim 5 and further comprising: a seat assemblyhaving first and second sections positioned beneath the lift bar andincluding means for selectively interconnecting the first and secondsections; and means for selectively securing the first and secondsections of the seat assembly in a variety of angular relationships tocomfortably support a user engaging the lift bar.